Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith

Daubutim stared at the gray cloud that spread out to cover the entire ceiling. As it began lowering, his fear vanished as his training took over. He prepared his cards, getting ready to defend himself. He absently hoped that the cloaked and hooded guard Gelwin had sent him would be nearby.

'If you make any wrong move, little bastard, I'll crush your mind and get what I need the hard way,' Uxin'tar hissed, the horrid voice echoing along the edges of his mind.

The pressure increased, and Daubutim felt his consciousness compressed further. Slowly he lost his hold on his cards and finally couldn't hold back a strangled gasp. All he could do was struggle to keep his consciousness from dissipating.

'This odd protection you have somehow gotten won't save you from me!' Uxin'tar hissed, the words echoing dully in Daubutim's mind.

As the pressure increased, he struggled, focusing all of himself inward. The world had turned a dark gray, and he barely felt his back against the bed. Instead, the dullness seemed like a blanket around him, threatening to drown him out. Whatever Uxin'tar was doing was agitating it, causing it to spread and thicken beyond anything he had ever experienced.

Slowly, Daubutim felt the tiny seed of fear that he'd always carried, that he might one day remain in his dulled state, unable to ever return to full consciousness.

He screamed in the confines of his mind, trying to pull even further inward and away from the dullness. It felt like he was both compressed together into the smallest point he could and, at the same time, pushed against a wall.

'How can you do this! You only have a few pathetic cards, none of which should grant you a mental barrier! No! This is impossible! A trick! I will know where Gelwin is, and you will tell me!'

Uxin'tar began screaming in his mind, an insane hatred waving along with it.

Daubutim felt like he was shoved into the center of his mind, surrounded by a gray cloud of roiling nothingness that threatened to swallow him while at the same time holding back Uxin'tar.

Feeling the pressure against the clouds, he was stunned when vague images began forming around him. Unable to understand what he was seeing, he watched how a young man moved through a tower, which he instantly recognized. It was a sorcerer's tower, and although he'd never been to this one, he knew it was the most important one. It was the tower where a handful of the most powerful sorcerers had been living. The young man stood before a hallway with a door at the end. As the image became clearer, Daubutim saw the thick carpet of dust.

A dull droning, almost like a voice, hummed around him, but he couldn't make out any of the words. The young man scowled. Although it lasted for only moments, Daubutim could sense that, in reality, hours passed as the young man stood there, glaring at the door. Finally, he clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and turned away.

Is that Uxin'tar? Daubutim thought. As he did, he instinctively wanted to hold back his mind from thinking about it too deeply, only to find that there was no reaction. The clouds of dullness around him remained a mass of swirling clouds while the pressure from Uxin'tar kept slowly increasing. But his mind remained clear, free.

Barely believing what he sensed, Daubutim slowly let himself think about what he'd seen and naturally formed a conclusion. Smooth as butter, tiny memories clicked together, and if he could have, he might have cried at the sense of clarity that remained.

It is Uxin'tar, he thought. It was the only thing that made sense. Somehow, he was seeing memories from the evil sorcerer as the man tried to force his way into his mind. Could he find a way to stop what was happening? Or slow it down?

He watched with bated breath as another image formed. It was clearer than the previous one, almost as if the pressure Uxin'tar was exerting was causing some connection between them to grow stronger.

The young man -Uxin'tar- had become older, a scraggly beard covering most of his face. He stood in an ancient, ruined library, staring at a book. A look of exaltation was on his face as he pressed a hand on the book. His lips moved, but beyond the dull droning, Daubutim heard nothing. Uxin'tar moved forward, rushing through the ruins. Daubutim tried to determine where he could be, but there was nothing he recognized.

Again, the passage of time became muddled, and what had to be a long time passed before the man that was Uxin'tar stopped before a section of nondescript wall. His beard had become longer, and his eyes had a haunted look. He glared at the wall as he put his hands on it. A card on the back of his left hand flashed, and Daubutim watched in awe as images appeared on the wall, forming the shape of a door.

A look of rapture came to Uxin'tar's face as the door opened, revealing a small room with golden inlay and dust of millennia covering everything. On a small pedestal protected by a crystalline cover lay a beautiful card.

Daubutim recognized part of it, and if he could, he would have shivered. It was a Derlin card, similar to the one Irwin had found long ago, back when they were still dealing with the Frozir situation and before they had reached Esterdon.

The bearded Uxin'tar ran forward, then almost reverently removed the crystal cover to take the card. Daubutim was anxious to see what would happen, but the image blurred, dissipating.

Faint images began swirling around, but none lasted longer than a moment, and they all were too fuzzy to make sense.

Ignoring them, Daubutim realized that the pressure had increased even more. Uxin'tar had been screaming in anger for a while. He quickly replayed what he'd said to find out if there was anything useful and blinked as he recalled Uxin'tar's words.

What does he mean, I have Soulforce? he thought, replaying the screamed curses. What is that?

His mind tried connecting dots, and he let it, hoping for the answer to appear while reveling in the ease of it. No fear of turning nearly catatonic. It took only a moment for him to find that the only thing different about him was the fog. Gazing at it, he frowned. Was this Soulforce? If so, what was it? What did it do?

One of the images suddenly snapped into focus, turning clear as day. An even older Uxin'tar, his beard now fully gray, sat at a table, his eyes closed and his face warped by pain. His hands were splayed out before him. All of the slots were filled, and as Daubutim watched, he saw them glow as one before settling again.

He combined both hands and thought.

Uxin'tar opened his eyes, and a crazed light sat inside as he took something from the inside of his robe. It was a Derlin card, but not the same one as Daubutim had seen before. This one had a silver hammer and the outlining of an empty card slot on it.

He watched as Uxin'tar laughed and put the card on top of his right hand. A flash of light appeared, and all three of his cards shot up in tiny beams of light before they hovered above the other card. Uxin'tar then put it on his left hand, and three more cards appeared. With all six of his cards hovering above his hand, he shouted something. All six cards began rotating around while the Derlin card glowed as bright as the sun. Bits and parts of the six cards began shooting into it, and the image of the hammer faded while the card slot seemed to be filled up.

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The bright light lasted for a long time, but when it faded, the Derlin card had changed to show a large bird with three eyes. Odd patterns covered its wings and head, while its three eyes seemed to glow with a dull red light.

Uxin'tar was staring at it, the crazy light in his eyes even stronger than before.

This is how he got his heartcard, Daubutim thought.

The image faded again, and a swirling mass of images began appearing and disappearing at a rapid pace. Some lasted for a few seconds, while others dissipated instantly.

Daubutim stared in horror at the memories playing through the dull clouds around him. He felt his skin crawl as the images moved from Uxin'tar sitting around a table with other sorcerers to him killing young sorcerers, rangers, and other cards. Sometimes, he would take cards, at other times, none dropped. A sense of annoyance came from the images as they spun by faster. Flashes of him talking with other sorcerers came, and then it began slowing. He was again sitting in a room at a table, and the other sorcerers around him nodded as if they agreed with something. Uxin'tar smiled, and the image moved to another. But as it did, Daubutim felt his skin crawl. The smile had held a dangerous, hungry sentiment.

Another clear image appeared, and Daubutim hissed.

In it, Uxin'tar stood before a door that he knew by heart. It was the door leading to the first training portal he had ever gone through, in the sorcerer tower where he had met Irwin. A group of youths stood behind Uxin'tar, and he spoke to them.

The children seemed afraid but eventually entered the portal. With a predatory grin, Uxin'tar waited until the youths were ejected back out. Before any of them could move, he raised his hands, and all of them froze, staring at him with glazed-over eyes. Then he moved to the nearest one, grabbed the small hand, and looked at the cards on the back. Seemingly not finding what he needed, he moved to the next and the next. Finally, at the third child, a young boy with curly hair, he stopped as a nasty grin crept up his face. He pulled the boy to his feet and moved him away before checking the others. After a few moments, he finished and focused on the one boy. A familiar gray cloud appeared before him, swirling around the kid, and with a blurred motion, he disappeared.

He is harvesting them, Daubutim thought, a deep anger growing within him.

He watched in disgust as Uxin'tar let the others leave, none of whom seemed confused about their missing friend.

The image changed to a room where the boy was, and Daubutim saw how Uxin'tar gutted the dull-eyed, mind-controlled boy with a dagger. Steeling himself and suppressing his growing hatred for the evil sorcerer, he watched Uxin'tar take a card from the boy's dead body before holding it before his own chest. The card glowed, the light moving into Uxin'tar's chest, and then it crumbled. The image faded and shifted to another.

Daubutim gritted his teeth as images began passing by faster and faster. All of them showed Uxin'tar killing and taking cards.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the images slowed, and at the same time, the pressure dissipated.

'I hope you enjoyed the show,' Uxin'tar hissed, causing Daubutim to blink in surprise.

There was no more sign of the anger and insanity in Uxin'tar's voice. Instead, it sounded soft and malicious as it echoed through his mind.

'So… he is hiding inside some ancient library, is he? I don't know how you are blocking my soulcard, but it doesn't matter. I have seen enough to get the gist of it. He is old and weak! Needs to send others to deal with me? Good… You will wake in a moment, and as soon as you do, you will read those books. After that, you will bring me to Gelwin! If someone asks why, tell them you have recalled something important upon reading those books! Use that odd ability of yours to suppress any confusion with knowledge!'

Daubutim felt the pressure almost vanish. The cloud of dullness almost seemed to hesitate before slowly spreading out, letting his mind unfold.

He saw my memories as I saw his? Daubutim thought, a sudden fear growing. What had he seen?

'Move, little bastard!"

Daubutim shuddered as he saw the cloud hover a foot above his face. He rolled to the side and sat down at his desk, picking up the nearest book. As his eyes skimmed the knowledge about some random world, he sensed the familiar dullness settle back in around his mind. Just before it could become troublesome again, he made a decision. If he survived this and got the chance, he would find a card that allowed him to suppress the dullness.

As he read, Uxin'tar's voice softly rattled through his mind.

'If you do as I ask, I'll let you leave with your life. I might even undo the damage I did to your girlfriend's mind!'

Daubutim blinked, using every skill his father had taught him to suppress the growing anger.

It took him longer than normal to read through the top two books as he took his time to try and come up with a solution to his current predicament. Sadly, the clarity had left his mind, and each time he tried to come up with something outside of the things he'd been taught or learned, the dullness threatened to overcome him. If anything, it was far worse than normal because he could almost feel that there were things he should realize. It was as if something was shouting at him, but if he listened, he'd drown in the fog.

Uxin'tar remained hovering around him. Finally, as he put down the third book, the sorcerer's patience seemed to have left him.

'Enough! We are leaving. Stand!'

Daubutim did as ordered.

'Open your coat, and remain perfectly still.'

Uncertain of what might happen, Daubutim did as asked. His hair stood on end as the cloud moved closer, and it took all his self-control to remain standing as it slithered inside his coat. A slightly stuffy, warm sensation settled around him.

Alright. If you try to warn anyone, I'll kill you and then go after all your friends! Now, move! And, if that shadowy guard appears, tell him that you forgot to tell Gelwin something important!

Daubutim mechanically nodded, but as he did, a twitch of hope grew. Uxin'tar didn't realize just how good his memory was. But Gelwin did…

Pulling open the door, he saw the two apprentices were still reading and didn't look up. As he moved away from the room, heading back to Gelwin's chambers, he kept his eyes fixated on the ground. He made it halfway before a soft cough made him stop. Looking to the side, he saw the hooded and cloaked figure standing there.

"I need to talk to Gelwin again," he said calmly, deciding to repeat Uxin'tar's words. "I forgot something important."

He watched the hooded figure, not sure if he hoped he would act or not. If it did, the chances of him getting out alive would drop significantly.

Seconds ticked by, but he just watched the figure. Finally, it nodded, but it remained where it was.

Sensing a soft pressure on his waist, Daubutim continued towards Gelwin's chambers. As he approached the door, it swung open, and he entered the empty room. The cloaked figure walked past him and opened the door leading to the library, then stepped aside.

Daubutim nodded as he entered.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold, keeping his eyes on the ground, something clicked.

He doesn't know about the rules!

'Interesting… another world!' Uxin'tar hissed. 'So that's why I couldn't sense him. I can feel him now! Vaguely, in the distance!'

Daubutim ignored him and continued walking with his head down. He tried to make it seem like it was because of Uxin'tar. At the same time, he ran through the knowledge he had from the library. Within moments, a sense of hope came, and as he headed forward, he waited for a certain hallway. One with a single book. He'd passed it many times, and he knew one thing. Anyone who passed through was obligated to tap it. If they didn't… Well, he didn't really know what would happen if they didn't, but based on the other things he'd learned, it couldn't be anything good.

Three hallways later, the chaotic mess of a labyrinth led him to the one he wanted. A single book, in a long corridor with empty bookshelves. Two steps from it, he hoped Uxin'tar wouldn't react oddly if he touched it. A trick of his father, normally used to palm something, shot through his mind, and he put one foot in front of the other just slightly wrong, tripping himself. He stretched his hand, using the book to catch himself. There was no response, like always, and he continued.

One second, two, three- Daubutim was starting to worry as he almost reached the end of the hallway.

A soft, high-pitched chuckle rang through the hallway, almost seeming to echo from everywhere. At the same time, he felt a powerful force lock him down. Or, more accurately, lock something down that sat around him.

'What? What are you- who? I'll kill-' Uxin'tar's voice suddenly vanished, and a tiny bit of pressure removed itself from Daubutim's mind. Something he'd not even noticed until it was gone.

The giggling voice returned, humming as it sang a rhyme that made Daubutim's hair stand on end.

"Mind, soul... tarnished and whole,

With power, not yours, you come here for a stroll?

Through the corridors, you tread unbound,

Yet the rules of this realm are renowned!

In this sacred place,

your greed...

shall end!"

A powerful pull came from around his waist as something began tugging at Uxin'tar, threatening to pull him back.

Without hesitating, he ripped open his jacket and hurled it behind him. Exhaling and pulling in his breath, he raised his arms and dropped through the hold of Uxin'tar's cloud. He closed his eyes as he did to make sure he'd not see something he shouldn't, then took a step forward, eyes open, and another step across that took him out of the room.

A terrifying scream rang out from behind him, then it was quiet, and he was left breathing heavily, shaking where he stood.

Is he dead? he thought, wishing he could turn around to check. Instead, he took long paces forward, determined to get to Gelwin either way.